Personal Protective Equipment Safety Management Standard Issue 1 April 2016 Page 1 of 6/AU/SMS PPE V1 04/2016
Introduction This SMS provides the minimum legal standards that Schools and Support Areas must keep to. It gives guidance but does not limit Schools and Support Areas in how they achieve the standard. Responsibility for implementing this standard and developing local arrangements rests with local managers. Definitions Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is all equipment which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work which protects them against one or more risks to their health and safety. PPE also includes any addition or accessory designed to protect health and safety, and includes waterproof, weatherproof or insulated clothing if it is necessary to protect employees against adverse weather conditions. Standards 1. Before selecting PPE as a control measure you must first try to eliminate or reduce risks through risk assessment via engineering controls or safe systems of work. The risk assessor must follow the hierarchy of controls and consider PPE as a last resort. For further information refer to the HSE guide - 5 steps to risk assessment. 2. Before choosing any PPE you must assess whether the PPE is suitable (ie for the job, environment and the wearer) using the PPE Assessment Form (see guide in Appendix 2). You must complete the assessment by following the HSE guide on PPE at work. The assessment can be completed per individual or for a task as long as all individual requirements are considered. 3. You must provide employees with information, instruction and training on: Why PPE is needed, when it is to be used, why it is important that is should be worn for the entire period they are exposed, how to identify and report defects, and how it is repaired or replaced and its limitations How to use it properly (including demonstrations where necessary) How it should be maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in good working order and in good repair following the manufacturer s maintenance schedule (including recommended replacement periods and shelf lives); and How PPE should be stored when it is not being used. This training must be recorded. 4. You must have arrangements in place for the storage, maintenance and replacement of PPE. 5. You must provide employees with PPE free of charge. 6. You must check regularly that PPE is being used properly. This is because PPE is the last resort after other methods of protection have been considered, it is important that users wear it all the time they are exposed to the risk. Never allow exemptions for those jobs which take just a few minutes. 7. PPE will be available to individual employees for their personal use. If PPE is provided for emergency use, the equipment needs disinfecting before it can be reused by someone else. Page 2 of 6/AU/SMS PPE V1 04/2016
8. Where respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is needed under other legislation and identified in risk assessments, RPE will be considered as another form of PPE and controlled as set out in this SMS. RPE is breathing equipment such as face masks and oxygen cylinders. 9. Where possible you will use disposable RPE. If this is not possible and reusable RPE is needed, you must arrange for formal checks on how well your RPE fits (ie fit testing). 10. You must review the assessment if: you believe that it is no longer valid; or there has been a significant change in the circumstances to which it relates 11. If you provide PPE to students or visitors, you must consider their health and safety, including disinfecting the equipment before reusing it. 12. PPE that may have become contaminated with substances, for example during laboratory work, must NOT BE WORN outside of the laboratory. 13. You must publish your own local arrangements to comply with the above standards for PPE. Relevant national legislation Health and Safety at Work etc Act Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations Control of Noise at Work Regulations Control of Lead at Work Regulations Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations Ionising Radiations Regulations Page 3 of 6/AU/SMS PPE V1 04/2016
Appendix 1: Personal protective equipment (PPE) SMS audit form School/Support Area: Representative: Location: Date: Question Y N Comment 1 Topic included in your service health and safety plan. 2 Local management system and arrangements in place. 3 Management team competent, briefed and involved. 4 Evidence that risk assessments are available, suitable and sufficient. 5 Evidence of risk assessment action planning. 6 Evidence of suitable information instruction and training. 7 Evidence that PPE is appropriate for the risk(s) involved; the environment it is being used within; and the person wearing it. 8 Evidence that where PPE is being used, assessments of its appropriateness have been made 9 Evidence of PPE being inspected, maintained and cleaned as appropriate. 10 Evidence of training on the use, storage and disposal of PPE 11 Where appropriate, proper storage facilities have been provided 12 Evidence that employees have been provided with the appropriate information, instruction and training 13 Where appropriate, RPE has been tested to make sure it fits the employees correctly. Priorities for action Date for review: Auditor Signature Date Auditee Signature Date Scrutiny by HSU Manager Signature Date Page 4 of 6/AU/SMS PPE V1 04/2016
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Appendix 2 Personal Protective Equipment Assessment Form - Example School/Support Area Activity Briefly describe the activity being undertaken which requires PPE Hazard Describe the specific hazard(s) associated with the activity listed above such as impact, flying object, liquid splashes, etc and link to the activity or job risk assessment Type of PPE Describe the PPE which will provide protection from the hazard(s) Required PPE characteristics PPE standard (i.e. BS EN) mentioned above such as head protection - hard hat/bump cap, Specify the required protection characteristics. For example, if hearing protection identify the type required (i.e. ear muff, ear plugs) and the necessary attenuation. Question Yes No Comment Can the process or activity be changed to avoid the need for PPE? Is it appropriate for the risks involved and the conditions at the place where exposure to the risk may occur? For example, gloves chosen to prevent the ingress of chemical Does it prevent or adequately control the risks involved without increasing the overall level of risk? Can it be adjusted to fit the wearer correctly? Does the PPE consider the ergonomic needs of the user? Has the state of health of those who will be wearing it been taken into account? Does the item take account of any physical demands which may be made on the wearer or user? Does the wearing of PPE affect employee s ability to interpret safety signs or signals (for example, can they hear the fire alarm when wearing hearing protection)? Does the PPE comply with the relevant British or European standard? Does the PPE display the CE mark? If more than one item of PPE is being worn, are they compatible? For example, does a particular type of respirator make it difficult to get eye protection to fit properly? Use the comment box to justify why this specific PPE is necessary and adequate for the task, user(s), and environment with regard to the questions. If you answer no to one of the questions, specify why, and your reasoning why the PPE will still be adequate for use or otherwise. Based on this information, the overall assessment should conclude on whether the PPE is suitable and provides the necessary protection for the activity, risks, user, and environment. Name of assessor Signature Date of assessment Overall Assessment: Based on the information above is this PPE SUITABLE / NOT SUITABLE* for the task described? (*delete as appropriate) This PPE Assessment form is available from the Health & Safety intranet site. Page 6 of 6/AU/SMS PPE V1 04/2016